ON the night of 17th/18th March, 1969, the Longhope, Orkney, life-boat T.G.B.

capsized. The whole of her crew lost their lives. This was the first life-boat disaster involving the loss of all or nearly all of the crew since the Seaham Harbour life-boat capsized on 17th November, 1962. The Longhope life-boat had been launched to go to the help of the Liberian vessel Irene, This vessel later went aground half a mile south of Grim Ness on the east coat of South Ronaldsay and her crew were rescued by H.M. Coastguard by the use of breeches buoy.

The 70-foot steel life-boat Grace Paterson Ritchie was also launched, and after it was feared that the Longhope life-boat might be missing the life-boats at Stronsay, Thurso and Stromness also put out.

The Institution has carried out a detailed inquiry into all the circumstances attending the disaster and its report has been forwarded to the Board of Trade.

As a public inquiry is being held, the full account of the service will not be published in THE LIFE-BOAT until the September number.

EIGHT MEN IN CREW There were eight men aboard the Longhope boat. They were Coxswain Daniel Kirkpatrick, Second Coxswain James Johnston, Bowman Raymond Kirkpatrick, Mechanic Robert Johnston, Assistant Mechanic James Swanson, and John Kirkpatrick, Robert Johnston and Eric McFadyen. Robert Johnston, the mechanic, was the oldest member of the crew being aged 62. Two of his sons were also in the crew. The youngest crew member was Eric McFadyen who was aged 24. Coxswain KJrkpatrick also had two sons in the crew. He himself hadawarded the R.N.L.I, silver medal for gallantry three times. The bodies of seven members of the crew were found aboard the life-boat, but that of the eighth, James Swanson, was missing.

As soon as it was known in London that the Longhope life-boat was thought to have capsized Capt. D. G. Wicksteed, R.D., R.N.R., Deputy Chief Inspector of Life-boats, arranged to fly to Orkney. Lord Saltoun, a former member of the Committee of Management and formerly Convener of the Scottish Life-boat Council, also made arrangements to leave for Orkney at once. The other two members of the party to leave without delay were Mr. A. W. Neal, principal clerk of the Operations and Coast Personnel Department, and Mr. G. Berry, Assistant Surveyor of Life-boats.

The Duke of Atholl, who succeeded Lord Saltoun as Convener of the Scottish Life-boat Council, and Miss E. M. Lloyd-Jones, Organising Secretary for Scot- land, also flew to Longhope on 18th March.

PENSIONS When such disasters occur, one of the first concerns of the Institution is of course with the families of crew members who have lost their lives. The widows and dependent children immediately received pensions from the R.N.L.I.'s general funds. The scale applied is that for a Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy and at present the amounts are widow under 70 (£6 a week), widow 70 or over (£6 15s.), and children up to the age of 16 (£2 9s. 6d.). Shortly after the disaster the Lord Lieutenant of Orkney launched a special appeal for the families of the men lost. The amount contributed by this fund now stands at over £92,000.

The funeral service for the men who lost their lives was held on 22nd March at Walls Old Parish Church, Hoy. Among the many who attended were the Chairman of the R.N.L.I., Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods, G.B.E., K.C.B., D.S.O., and Lady Woods; The Duke of Atholl, Lord Saltoun, the Secretary of the R.N.L.I. Mr. Stirling Whorlow, O.B.E., and the Chief Inspector, Lieut.-Com- mander W. L. G. Dutton, R.D., R.N.R., as well as other members of the Institu- tion's staff who were in Longhope at the time. Among the other mourners werethe Rt. Hon. Jo Grimond, M.P. for Orkney and Zetland, and Mr N. P. Buchan, M.P. for Renfrewshire.

On Sunday, 23rd March, a memorial service was held in St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, at which some 1,200 people were present.

As reported on page 606, the day before the disaster occurred Mr. Raymond Baxter had made an appeal on B.B.C. television and Brigadier J. W. H. Gow, a member of the Committee of Management, had made a B.B.C. radio appeal in Scotland on behalf of the R.N.L.I. London life-boat day occurred the day follow- ing the disaster, and the manner in which the public at large reacted to the events at Longhope was reflected in the contributions made both to the funds launched by the Lord Lieutenant of Orkney and to the R.N.L.I. appeals. The press, the B.B.C. and independent television companies reported and commented on the loss of the Longhope crew with understanding, accuracy and marked sympathy.

The Daily Mirror in particular launched a special appeal for the R.N.L.I. funds and itself presented a cheque for £1,000. Response to the Daily Mirror Appeal amounted to over £10,000. In Scotland the Daily Record launched a special appeal both for the dependants and for R.N.L.I. general funds. This produced over £3,000. The Daily Express also asked its readers to send any contributions either directly to the R.N.L.I. or through the Daily Express.

As a small recognition of the immensely valuable services which he rendered at the time of the disaster and immediately afterwards, the Institution decided to award Mr. J. M. F. Groat, the honorary secretary at Longhope, an award of a statuette..